There are movies that I want to see. There are movies that I anticipate a week or two prior theatrical release. Then there are movies that I hear about from the conception of the idea and wait months, maybe a year, or maybe years until it is released. Such a movie is any Kevin Smith movie. The last one of his that I had the joy of torturing myself with the wait was Clerks 2. And now we have “Zack and Miri Make A Porno”. Not only was I anticipating it because it was a Kevin Smith movie, or it had “porno” in the title, it was also because of Seth Rogen. I have been a Seth Rogen fan from day one of him being on screen with the Apatow bunch. So yeah, “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” was all kinds of goodness.
I’ll get the obvious stuff out of the way. The dialogue penned by Smith is untouchable, hilarious, and downright filthy. Seth Rogen’s presence only adds completely to it. Where Smith’s films shine is all the in between dialogue. If the two characters are on screen discussing a plot point that keeps the story moving, then you are laughing your ass off at all the other stuff they are saying. What is also so amazing is that the story is JUST as great as the in between. Smith doesn’t let his story take the back seat to his jokes, the story is in the front seat going right along with them (random metaphor). Now you may look at the title and say, “Well really, how far can you go with the story that is clearly spelled out in the title”. And I say, “NAY! You ignorant pig!”. If the story was truly spelled out in the title it would be “Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and, In The Process, Realize That It Might Be More Than Just Sex”. The actual title is a lot cooler though.
I was thrilled at the fact that this was a movie outside of the Askewniverse (i.e. Jay and Silent Bob-iverse). I walked out of the film calling it a “new breed” of Kevin Smith films. Then my friend asked me in reply, “Oh it’s not a feel good film like the rest of his others?”. To which I said, “Yes, it is.” So I take it back, it is NOT a new breed. But it is just joining the rest of the breed (another random metaphor?).
The supporting cast he picked up for this was amazing. No doubt was there Jason Mewes, for once NOT playing a stoner with long hair, but playing a horny man with a long penis. Justin Long was hilarious as a male porn star/porn director/porn distributor. And the guy who played his boyfriend was just super, man. Craig Robinson of “The Office” fame was also hilarious as the “producer” of the porno. And there is not enough to say about Elizabeth Banks. I just saw her in “W.”, and now this. She is very talented, very funny, and very hot.
This film is very funny, but even I can admit it is not Smith’s funniest. But that’s like saying a 7-inch dick isn’t quite as good as a 7 1/2 inch dick (here’s the dick metaphors). The story is clearly funny, and adds that Kevin Smith sweetness. This movie holds one of my favorite sex scenes ever, and it doesn’t even involve nudity. Smith just translated everything we were supposed to feel, and what the characters feel, all so well.
If there is ANY downside, it is that this isn’t Smith’s funniest movie. But that’s hardly noticeable. This is a great achievement and great addition to the Kevin Smith Library. I give “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” an 7 out of 10.
